Summary: The 25th installment in our series on the Book of Genesis. In this sermon we look at the separation of Abraham and Lot, and the reasons and results of that separation

Now if you remember last time, Abram had gone to Egypt because of a famine. His faith was tested, and he failed the test. But even though he failed, God showed Himself to be faithful, even when Abram was faithless. Now look what happens here; Abram returns to the Promised Land. And he’s going to go back to the place where he had originally built the altar to God. God had shown Himself faithful, and even blessed Abram with wealth, and livestock, and many possessions, but before he goes back to the place where he worshiped God, our text… right there in verse 1, tells us that Abram left Egypt and went to the South. The literal Hebrew says he went to Negev. It’s the area south of Israel, that the Bible commonly calls the “wilderness.” It’s the same place Moses and the Israelites will wander for 40 years. And Abram goes through this wilderness, before coming back to the place where he built the altar.

Do you see what’s happening here? In the last chapter; Abram messed up, he doubted God, and got off track. So what he’s doing here is back-tracking. He’s retracing his steps and heading back to the place where he first came into the Promised Land… heading back to the place where he first called on the Name of the Lord. But before he can do that, he goes through a wilderness experience. We should never fool ourselves into thinking that we can get into sin and then easily get back to our relationship with God. Sin has consequences, and it takes a toll on us. The best example of this that I can think of in the Bible is the story of David. David was a man after God’s own heart, he had a wonderful relationship with the Lord, but after his sin with Bathsheba things were never the same again. Yes; God forgave him – God is a merciful and forgiving God, but there’s always consequences for our sin. Abram finds that out as he’s making his way back to God.

Then, verse 4 says that he again called on the Name of the Lord. So you see; what God’s doing here by telling us about Abram, is giving us a pattern to follow. If you’ve ever sewn, then you know the value of a pattern to follow… but if you’re not a sewer, then think of it as a road map… or maybe a better way to think of it, is as a treasure map. Here in our text God is giving us a pattern of repentance. When we sin, when we stray, the best way to get back on track is to go back to the place we were before we sinned. Abram did it physically, we do it spiritually, and I guess sometimes physically, depending on the circumstances and situations. And again; it’s not always easy, Abram had to pass through Negev, through the wilderness. But he does it! He returns to the place he was, and he worships God. God has seen him through the famine. God’s seen him through the trials of Egypt and the wilderness. So Abram worships the Lord.